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I love that they're urinating on the carpets -- that's seriously hardcore. My parents just got back from a 2 week cruise and are going on a 30-day one in April or May departing from Dubai. My mother's already fretting about visiting Egypt with all of those wilding folks.

They used to take me on cruises back when they thought I was about to die, but well that doesn't happen any longer.

A one day cruise? I wasn't aware such a thing existed. Exactly what is the point of that?

A one day cruise is very common in port cities. We used to take a "cruise to nowhere" when ships were idle while being repositioned for the next season. You get a whole day on board, just cruising at sea for about $200 a couple and they give you the good cabins, like with balconies, etc., instead of that inboard crap.

Child please. If the Lady Miss P desires to indulge in a bit of gambling all she need do is take NJ transit's train from downtown Philly to Atlantic City. I think it gets me there in an hour. Plus they have a gay bar with glitzy Cher-like drag queens.

And then there's the legendary Brass Rail where everyone is one step from a crack pipe. Open since 1902!

Oh, actually there's also Harrah's Casino & Racetrack too. I think they're planning an even larger third casino that will literally be right downtown near the convention center. Some folks are a bit aghast at that prospect.

I have been on a lot of cruises (from 2 nights to 14 nights) - the likelihood of this fire happening is quite low. Terribly unfortunate, but not likely, so enjoy your upcoming cruise Wump. Sid and I board the Brilliance of the Seas a week from Sat., in San Juan for seven nights.

If you've not Been on one, how can you say this? Trust me, it is not even close to your assessment.

M

your right I've not been on a cruise before. whenever I have asked others what the appeal is I always seem to get similar answers. They usually have to do with the all you can eat food (Im not into that). seems like if you wanted to gamble would be more fun to go to Vegas or foxwoods. if you wanted to go to the beach go to a nice.hotel on the beach.

being stuck on a boat just sounds manufactured. shuffleboard on the lido deck anyone?

I've never understood the desire to go on a cruise. what's the point? who wants to spend their holiday in some buffet line with diarrhea trapped on a boat with a bunch of overweight oldies?

Actually if you go on a cruise going on one with primarily an "older set" of passengers is IMO preferable to one with over-partying 20/30 somethings or families with loud kids. I've been on two cruises, both with my parents, and due to destination and time of year (Scandanavia & Russia, and Greece/Turkey) that was the type of crowd. And neither were cheap cruises so it was more of a Emilio Pucci crowd than a Walmart one. And both of those have ports or call that are all interesting. So it just depends on choosing wisely where you go and what time of year.

As far as the food goes yes, there are always buffets available, but there are also ALWAYS full sit-down tablecloth service on board too. And the Baltic cruise we took you could also have room service for every single meal if you wanted to. We did full course sit-down meals for every dinner, and maybe half the lunches. We did the buffet most of the time for breakfast, unless there was no port of call that day then we did sit-down. I may be recalling things incorrectly but I think even in the full service sit down restaurant if you want a second helping of something you can get it at no extra cost. And the large cruise ships also always have "a la carte" separate restaurants that are even more upscale that you just pay extra for.

That said, I went into it with the idea that I wouldn't enjoy it at all and it was tolerable. It's not a bad thing to take a vacation with your parents as they get older, and if they want to go overseas a cruise keeps them from getting too befuddled.

But it's kind of a lazy way to see the world if that's all you do, IMO. And I was totally not into all of the after dinner "shows" that they have and routinely skipped them and just read books in my cabin or smoked cigars in the humidor bar and had a glass of bourbon. Oh, and the disco is ALWAYS tragic on a cruise ship. They also always have nice spas and jacuzzis so I'd indulge in facials and manicures if I got bored.

your right I've not been on a cruise before. whenever I have asked others what the appeal is I always seem to get similar answers. They usually have to do with the all you can eat food (Im not into that). seems like if you wanted to gamble would be more fun to go to Vegas or foxwoods. if you wanted to go to the beach go to a nice.hotel on the beach.

being stuck on a boat just sounds manufactured. shuffleboard on the lido deck anyone?

since I haven't been. what is the appeal?

While it's true that a cruise isn't for everyone, I haven't met too many who have actually taken one and hated it.There is much more to do than eat and play shuffleboard. The ships today have all kinds of things -- ziplines, flowriders, rock climbing, miniature golf --- along with shopping, casino (except for Disney cruise ships) and the chance to meet some great (and not so great) people from all over.I love the spa -- massage, pedicures, and, yes, facials too. Great gyms (so I hear). The thing I most like about a cruise though -- once I'm onboard, everything is taken care of for me. You can wake up in a new place every day (you are rarely "stuck on the boat", unless it is a repositioning cruise). Granted, you don't get alot of time in each spot -- but you get to see where you want to return and where you don't. For instance, one afternoon in Naples is more than enough for anyone -- horrid place, really (great pizza though). Dubrovnik -- a truly unexpected gem.

So -- my advice to those in doubt -- take a short cruise, test the waters, so to speak.

your right I've not been on a cruise before. whenever I have asked others what the appeal is I always seem to get similar answers. They usually have to do with the all you can eat food (Im not into that). seems like if you wanted to gamble would be more fun to go to Vegas or foxwoods. if you wanted to go to the beach go to a nice.hotel on the beach.

being stuck on a boat just sounds manufactured. shuffleboard on the lido deck anyone?

May I remind you of a rather poignant passage from the above referenced article?

"Conditions are getting worse by the hour," passenger Debra Rightmire told ABC News in a text message. "Cabin carpets are wet with urine and water. Toilets are overflowing inside cabins. We are having to sleep in the hallways. Onion and cucumber sandwich last night," she said.

your right I've not been on a cruise before. whenever I have asked others what the appeal is I always seem to get similar answers. They usually have to do with the all you can eat food (Im not into that). seems like if you wanted to gamble would be more fun to go to Vegas or foxwoods. if you wanted to go to the beach go to a nice.hotel on the beach.

being stuck on a boat just sounds manufactured. shuffleboard on the lido deck anyone?

since I haven't been. what is the appeal?

I've always wanted to go on one because I love the ocean. Not the beach, really, but the ocean. I have always enjoyed the idea of being a speck in the middle of a vast sea, with the manufactured amenities (games, food, drinks, shows) playing as a distraction from the real fact that I am essentially helpless against an inherently hostile Nature, and that the depths of beauty and splendor I would gaze at every day are also cold, unforgiving, and can in a moment sweep me to my certain death.

I guess I'm a romantic like that.

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"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

I like to drive (it's in my Blood) we can make a trip back east to see Bob's Folks in about 2 days

of course, I do all of the driving, while bob reads his crossword puzzles, and takes his shoes off and bitches @ me to turn down the the Sirius XM (he hates DISCO) radio most of the way, but he sure knows his way around them large cities & traffic jams.....lol

it's a lotta fun too

HUGS

DEN

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"it's so nice to be insane, cause no-one ask you to explain" Helen Reddy cc 1974

Some friends just got back from this gay cruise and posted this video. This looks fun to me. I am sure I would enjoy it. It's the being stuck on a ship thing I am hesitant about. I mean stuck on a perfectly functioning ship. Perhaps I'll go one day, when I'm the average age.

Some friends just got back from this gay cruise and posted this video. This looks fun to me. I am sure I would enjoy it. It's the being stuck on a ship thing I am hesitant about. I mean stuck on a perfectly functioning ship. Perhaps I'll go one day, when I'm the average age.

So they just interviewed a passenger live on CNN, the passenger says there is plenty of food on board and they have eaten very well, and said he just got finished eating a crab sandwich with a bowl of lumped lobster. He says he hasn't seen any cheese sandwich's. He said they opened up the bars and offered everyone complimentary Wine and beer...He says the only real inconvenience is crapping in the bags. Even goes so far as to say Carnival has treated them very well under the circusmtances.

Is this guy a "plant"?

Or is he in first class and all the people in steerage are eating the onion sandwich's?

So they just interviewed a passenger live on CNN, the passenger says there is plenty of food on board and they have eaten very well, and said he just got finished eating a crab sandwich with a bowl of lumped lobster. He says he hasn't seen any cheese sandwich's. He said they opened up the bars and offered everyone complimentary Wine and beer...He says the only real inconvenience is crapping in the bags. Even goes so far as to say Carnival has treated them very well under the circusmtances.

Is this guy a "plant"?

Or is he in first class and all the people in steerage are eating the onion sandwich's?

I bet it's mostly been the rednecks on the cruise that have been complaining. You know how Southerners are always looking for a free handout.

it really was lots of fun, meet lot of folks, mostly gay but a few hetero couples here and there that loved to do the gay cruises. The ship crew loves the gay cruises because they get tipped and been known to enjoy the parties.

I will say that there was so much action going on in the sauna, the ship couldn't keep up with the towels. That was the only time RSVP got their hands slapped a little

I was on the cruise with that big mouth lady from the roseanne show and also the lady that played nell on the nell carter show. i didn't know she was a lesbian, but she was.

Arent the RSVP cruises supposed to be more "mature" and tame and the Atlantis cruises are basically the circuit party at sea? Could you imagine going on an Olivia cruise? With all those lesbians, now that sounds horrid.

Arent the RSVP cruises supposed to be more "mature" and tame and the Atlantis cruises are basically the circuit party at sea? Could you imagine going on an Olivia cruise? With all those lesbians, now that sounds horrid.

The video I posted was from an Atlantis cruise. Are there enough gays to fill a huge ship like that? I mean, we are less than 2% of the population after all. Seriously though, are those exclusive gay cruises? No regular passengers?